Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) has vacancies in the Machine Learning research group for two enthusiastic talented

PhD students (m/v/x)
within Peter Grünwald’s ERC Advanced Grant Project FLEX (FLEXible Statistical Inference).

Job description
Most statistical methods require that all aspects of data collection and inference are determined in advance, independently of the data. These include when to stop collecting data, what decisions can be made (i.e. accept/reject null hypothesis), and how to measure their quality (e.g. loss function/significance level). This is wildly at odds with the flexibility required in practice! It is a leading cause of the replicability crisis in the applied sciences.

The FLEX project aims to develop novel theory and methods of statistics in which all data-collection and decision-aspects may be unknown in advance, possibly imposed post-hoc. Yet this new theory will provide small-sample frequentist error control and uncertainty quantification. The theory will be based on far-reaching extensions of e-values, e-processes, and the e-posterior, flexible alternatives for p-values and Bayes factors that have been developed over the last five years. Other key topics include anytime-valid confidence sequences and the foundations of statistics (likelihood principle, complete class theorems).

peter

The vacancies are for two four-year PhD students to do research within the FLEX project. The students will join the Machine Learning group at CWI, and receive their PhD degree from Leiden University.

• Candidates are required to have a master's degree in Mathematics, Statistical Science, or Computer Science, or a closely related field. The ideal candidate has in-depth knowledge of mathematical statistics and/or advanced probability theory and/or information theory and programming skills e.g. in Python and/or R.
• Self-drive, enthusiasm, curiosity, open-mindedness and a research-oriented attitude.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

Diversity code
CWI encourages a diverse workforce: we endeavour to develop talent and creativity by bringing people from different backgrounds and cultures together. We recruit and select based on capabilities and talent. We strongly encourage everyone with the appropriate qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical abilities.

The terms of employment are in accordance with the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres ("CAO-onderzoeksinstellingen"). The initial labour agreement will be for a period of 18 months. After a positive evaluation, the agreement will be extended by 30 months. The gross monthly salary, for a PhD student on a full time basis, is € 2,884 during the first year and increases to €3,801 over the four year period. Employees are also entitled to a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.33%. CWI offers attractive working conditions, including flexible scheduling and help with housing for expat employees.

Please visit our websites for more information about our terms of employment:
https://www.cwi.nl/jobs/terms-of-employment and
https://www.nwo-i.nl/en/working-at-nwo-i/jobsatnwoi/

Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica

Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) is the Dutch national research institute for mathematics and computer science and is part of the Institutes Organisation of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The mission of CWI is to conduct pioneering research in mathematics and computer science, generating new knowledge in these fields and conveying it to trade, industry, and society at large.

CWI is an internationally oriented institute, with 160 scientists from approximately 27 countries, an informal atmosphere and short lines of communication. We have an activity committee that organizes after-work activities and an informal women’s network.

CWI is located at Science Park Amsterdam, the home of AMS-IX, that is presently developing into a major location of research in the physical sciences in The Netherlands, housing the sciences of the University of Amsterdam as well as several other national research institutes next to CWI.

To find more information about the CWI Machine Learning group, please visit the group page.

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the “Apply” button on this page.

The application should include:

• Cover letter in which you describe your personal motivation and qualifications for the specific position.
• Curriculum vitae, including the contact information of two referees.
• Your final master’s thesis, including English abstracts, and your publications (if any) as PDF files. Submit at least one document written in English of which you are the main author (this could be your thesis, or a term paper, or anything else that you wrote and consider relevant).
• Copies of diplomas and course grades.

We do not respond to applications that are sent to us in a different way.

The deadline for the first application round is November 1st 2024. Applications will be considered in rounds until the positions are filled.

For more information about the vacancy, please contact Peter Grünwald (pdg@cwi.nl) .

For more information about CWI, please visit www.cwi.nl or watch our video about working at CWI.